Epilepsy Association

EXCITING NEWS! The Epilepsy Association is hosting a one-night only screening of Under the Lights, a movie about a high school student with epilepsy who wants to go to prom. Filmmaker and director Miles Levin will also be there for a Q&A and free poster signing after the movie, and a VIP Meet and Greet before!

Watch with us on Tuesday, November 17, at the Great Lakes Science Center DOME Theater. General admission doors open 5:45pm, VIP Meet and Greet 5:30pm - 6:15pm. Movie is PG-13.

Tickets will be on sale soon, make sure you're following us to be notified when you can get yours! Limited VIP tickets available.

Time is running out to take advantage of the early bird discount on single Gala tickets! Save $25 per person when you reserve your seat this month only.

Put together a black and white themed outfit and celebrate Epilepsy Awareness Month with us at Windows on the River on Friday, November 6, featuring dueling pianos, open bar, dinner, and an awards ceremony honoring leaders in the NE Ohio epilepsy community. This year's legacy award will be presented to Dr. James Bavis of Summa Health.

The Gala is our biggest fundraiser of the year. We need your support to keep serving people with epilepsy who struggle with daily life because of the severity of their seizures, memory issues, and other barriers epilepsy creates.

Buy tickets or donate here: https://onecau.se/eagala

Too many people don't realize that epilepsy comes with more than just seizures. A student with epilepsy might have a harder time remembering things, be exhausted, or struggle with their mental health. They might even have seizures that can be mistaken for fidgeting or spacing out during class.

All of these problems can be caused by the part of the brain affected by the student's seizures, the recovery period after a seizure (which can last hours or days!), and even their anti-seizure medication.

Check out the BE SMART Manual, a free guide we designed for teachers and other school staff to learn about epilepsy, the lesser known problems that come with it, and how to support a student with epilepsy.

Download for free at https://epilepsyinfo.org/kids-and-families/

September is Self-Care Awareness Month! If you have epilepsy, practicing self-care is one way to reduce your risk of seizures or SUDEP.

Getting enough sleep every night is a big one. Without it, your brain doesn't get the chance to properly reset, and you can have more electrical imbalances in the brain that lead to more seizures, worse seizures, break-through seizures, or in some cases, SUDEP.

Trouble sleeping? Try turning off screens an hour before bed, or turn the brightness on your devices down in the evenings. Some phones even have night mode settings where your screen will use dimmer, warmer lighting that can help.

Celebrate Epilepsy Awareness Month and support free services for people with epilepsy! Join us at our 35th Anniversary Gala for a night of dueling pianos, fine dining, auctions, and more! All proceeds allow us to continue free social services for individuals and families affected by epilepsy.

Reserve your tickets: https://onecau.se/eagala

Join us on Zoom on Tuesday, October 6th at 2PM Eastern Standard Time for a free webinar presented by neurologist Neel Fotedar, MD! The topic will be "Sleep and Epilepsy." We'll learn how proper or improper sleep effects seizures and other epilepsy symptoms.

Certificates of participation will be emailed after the webinar on request.

Register for free here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/2026EAseminars

Save $25 off individual tickets when you reserve your seat, September only!

New entertainment this year - live Dueling Pianos!

Join the Epilepsy Association on Friday, November 6, at Windows on the River to celebrate Epilepsy Awareness Month and present awards to three devoted epilepsy advocates in our community. This year's Legacy Award recipient is Dr. James Bavis, from Summa Health.

Register here: https://onecau.se/eagala

Thank you to our Signature Sponsor, Summa Health.

This week's webinar "Epilepsy & Brain Health" is posted on YouTube! Anny Reyes, PhD from Cleveland Clinic talks about the areas of our lives brain health impacts, what makes our brain unhealthy, and what we can do to improve or maintain brain health. Brain health affects our memory, mental health, moods, and cognitive abilities.

Keeping the brain active is one of the easiest ways you can keep it healthy, and it doesn't have to be hard! Something as simple as playing a puzzle every day or talking to someone can help!

Watch the full webinar here to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmTRPdkiPWo&list=PLJqkdJaBCOBvEITTwllpcRG8aT-A76jlb

The Epilepsy Association offices are closed in observance of Labor Day. We will return to normal hours tomorrow, Tuesday Sept. 8.

Have a safe & fun holiday!

September is Self-Care Awareness Month. Self-Care is important for everyone, but it can also reduce seizures in people with epilepsy. Stress actually increases your chance of having a seizure, so taking care of your mental health is important for your physical health.

One great strategy is journaling. Keep track of your feelings, seizures, or both! Expressing yourself in a journal reduces stress and can help you see patterns that explain why you're anxious, depressed, or had a seizure.

For adults with both epilepsy and mental health challenges living in Cuyahoga County, we offer free case management that can help you manage stress and seizures, help you find financial resources, and so much more. Call 216-579-1330 or email [email protected] to learn or enroll.